SNOW SNARLS TRAVEL

GOOD DEED: Frank Cosby scrapes the windshield of his wife Vickie’s vehicle in the parking lot of the Presidential Estates this morning as the first round of today’s winter weather mix left area cars under a sheet of ice. Many area roads were passable at sunrise, though incoming snow and sleet may slow things down in the afternoon and this evening. (Staff photo by Ken Ritchie/kritchie@madisoncourier.com)

Overnight rain turned into ice in many parts of the Courierarea, closing schools for the day and canceling some events.

In Madison, three-tenths of an inch of rain fell overnight into the early morning hours.

Several inches of snow in central and southern Indiana made driving treacherous on many roads, with two deaths reported from crashes since the storm's arrival.

The National Weather Service reported more than 5 inches of snow early today in the Vincennes area, with almost 4 inches in Indianapolis.

Weather service meteorologist Chad Swain said 3-5 inches of additional snow could fall later today in the southern half of the state.

State police say one of the traffic deaths happened late Thursday when a semi driver lost control on a snow-covered Interstate 70 in eastern Indiana's Wayne County. That semi crossed the median and crashed into a car, killing its driver.

The other fatal crash happened Thursday night on U.S. 40 near Terre Haute when a driver possibly having a medical problem lost control, starting a four-vehicle crash. Police say 51-year-old Karen Price of Brazil died after her car was hit.

Police say drivers need to be cautious because many slide-off crashes have happened on the slick roads.